Graffiti targeted

15 Oct 2013

The City of Melbourne has launched a four-year draft plan to tackle graffiti in the city, but it is very careful in making the distinction between graffiti and street art.

Perhaps the best example in Southbank is The Wall (pictured above) underneath the Kings St Bridge on Crown Promenade.

The Wall, created by street artist Adrian Doyle has, at different times, been vandalised by “tags”. Tags are what the council is focused on eradicating.

The major part of the plan is to continue the council’s graffiti removal services contract, which has removed more than 100,000 square metres of graffiti, but costs $1 million a year to keep in operation.

Councillor Richard Foster explained that the council had no time for tagging.

“The City of Melbourne has a zero tolerance for tagging and will continue to remove graffiti in the form of tags from public and private property as soon as possible,” Cr Foster said.

“But we also recognise that street art is a celebrated part of Melbourne’s cultural fabric and will work to cultivate the next generation of street artists to secure our reputation as a global street art destination,” he added.

The draft plan can be viewed at www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/participate until mid-December.